The Sprint Route
The Sprint Route is an easy, leafy drive and travels past some quiet places for picnics, or even for a spot of fishing.
Here’s our round up of the best festive season shopping, savouring and celebrating in Southern Queensland Country.
This December, swap the online shopping cart and lengthy delivery delays for a weekend in the country, where you can not only stock up on some fantastic local fare for under the Christmas tree, you’ll feel good supporting our rural neighbours and friends.
Whether it’s filling your esky with local produce direct from the farmer (think organic hams, fresh berries and the best Queensland wines on offer) or stocking your stocking with local gifts and goodies, make this Christmas all about the country.
Here’s our round up of the best festive season shopping, savouring and celebrating in Southern Queensland Country.
The ultimate festive fare direct from the farmer
Skip the city crowds and queues this year and support producers from the country by heading straight to the source. You can’t possibly get fresher or more seasonal than buying the best tasting Christmas food at regional outlets, farmers markets or retailers who will thank you for shopping local.
Pick your own Christmas Tree!
Harvest Season at the Granite Belt Christmas Farm – Visit and pre-order to collect from 29 November open 9am to 4pm (Stanthorpe).
You select your perfect pine tree (which will smell incredible by the way) and staff will cut and net it for you for easy transportation. Bring the family to the farm, with Santa’s animals to feed and weekend appearances by Santa throughout the harvest.
Did you know? Real Christmas trees (cut) will keep in your home for three weeks if you keep them watered and out of direct sunlight and heat.
Order your Christmas hams and turkeys direct from the country butcher
In country towns and villages it’s the local butcher who’s the hero, sourcing the best cuts directly from farmers and graziers ready for your Christmas table. Kingaroy on the South Burnett is famous for their pork; Central Highlands and the Darling Downs have world-class beef, and the Southern Downs and Lockyer Valley boast some of Australia's best poultry, lamb, orchards and vegetable farms.
Many butchers let you order online with either pickup in person or in some cases, home delivery. To find out where to shop contact the Visitor Information Centre at major regional towns or visit one of our regular farmers markets for supplies, just remember to take your empty esky!
Toowoomba Farmers Market
- When: 7am - 12pm each Saturday
- Where: Under the windmills at Cobb + Co Museum, Toowoomba
Granite Belt Farmers Market
- When: 7.30am - 12 pm each Saturday
- Where: Farley St Piazza, Stanthorpe
The best Christmas markets to drive for
Empty the car boot and lace up your comfy shopping shoes as you hit these local markets – remember to pack your appetite too as you taste your way around the region:
Toowoomba Region
Christmas Tree Lighting Twilight Market
- When: 4pm to 8pm, 14 November 2024
- Where: Grand Central Shopping Centre, Toowoomba
Pittsworth Lions Market
- When: 8am to 1pm, 17 November 2024
- Where: Pittsworth Pioneer Village
Bush Christmas Exhibition
- When: 9am to 6pm, 20 November to 29 November 2024
- Where: Masonic Centre, Toowoomba
Christmas Handmade Art & Craft Market
- When: 8am to 2pm, 24 November 2024
- Where: Danish Flower Art Complex, Highfields
Twilight Eats at the Windmills
- When: 4pm to 9pm, 30 November 2024
- Where: Cobb+Co Museum Under the Windmills, Toowoomba
Crows Nest Christmas Markets
- When: 7.30am to 1pm, 1 December 2024
- Where: Centenary Park, Crows Nest
Oakey Santa Fair
- When: 4pm to 8pm, 7 December 2024
- Where: Oakey Bears RLFC (132 Kent St, Oakey)
Festive Vibes Twilight Markets
- When: 3pm to 8pm, 7 December 2024
- Where: The Goods Shed, Toowoomba
Aberfeldy Christmas Twilight Markets
- When: 3.30pm to 7.30pm, 8 December 2024
- Where: Aberfeldy Farm, Westbrook
Clifton Christmas Markets
- When: 8am to 12pm, 14 December 2024
- Where: King Street, Clifton
Cambooya Community Christmas Markets
- When: From 4pm, 14 December 2024
- Where: Cambooya Recreation Grounds
Oakey Lions Sunday Markets
- When: 8am to 12pm, 15 December 2024
- Where: QLD Rail Carpark, Oakey
Queens Park Christmas Markets
- When: 8am to 1pm, 15 December 2024
- Where: Queens Park, Toowoomba
Goondiwindi Region
Goondiwindi Christmas Markets
- When: 8am - 2pm 7 December 2024
- Where: Goondiwindi Waggamba Community Cultural Centre
Lockyer Valley Region
Christmas Markets at Forest Hill
- When: 8am to 1pm, 16 November 2024
- Where: Forest Hill School of Arts
Hatton Vale Christmas Markets
- When: 4pm to 8pm, 22 November 2024
- Where: Hatton Vale State School Oval
Gatton Christmas Markets
- When: 7am to 12pm, Sunday 1 December 2024
- Where: Gatton Showgrounds (via Woodlands Road)
Mulgowie Twilight Christmas Markets
- When: 4pm to 8pm, 14 December 2024
- Where: Mulgowie Hall & Recreational Reserve
Laidley Christmas Twilight Markets
- When: 4pm to 8pm, 14 December 2024
- Where: Ferrari Park, Laidley
Plainland Country Christmas Markets
- When: 7am to 12pm, 15 December 2024
- Where: Next to Porters Plainland Hotel
Christmas Funday Markets
- When: From 9am, 22 December 2024
- Where: Withcott Hotel
Southern Downs and Granite Belt Region
Warwick Christmas Markets
- When: From 7am to 12pm, 7 December 2024
- Where: Queens Park, Alice St Entrance
Christmas Market in the Mountains
- When: 8am to 12pm, 8 December 2024
- Where: Stanthorpe Showgrounds
Somerset Region
Make it Market
- When: 3pm to 8pm, 23 November
- Where: The Condensery, Toogoolawah
Central Queensland Highlands Region
Christmas Market at Rubyvale Flats
- When: 2pm to 6pm, 14 December 2024
- Where: Rubyvale Flats
Rotary Emerald RFDS Christmas Markets
- When: 5pm to 10.30pm, 14 December 2024
- Where: Rotary Park, Emerald
Take the family to a Christmas celebration they'll love, with our guide of what's on in December around the region, from Christmas Carols to street parties and light displays.
With the challenges of weather please always call ahead before you travel, to confirm the details of the event. A good place to get local information is the Visitor Information Centre at most regional towns. For a full list click here.
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